Guidelines for the Collection, Maintenance & Dissemination of Pupil Records. Report of a Conference on the Ethical & Legal Aspects of School Record Keeping. (Sterling Forest, New York, May 25-28, 1969).

Russell Sage Foundation, New York, NY.

Modern technology has given us the ability to record, store, retrieve, and disseminate large volumes of data. Though technically efficient, such a procedure can be misused and thus constitute an invasion of privacy. Most school systems maintain extensive student records, but few have systematic policies regarding dissemination of such information. At a conference sponsored by the Russell Sage Foundation, guidelines were developed for the collection, classification, and dissemination of data on students, with the data divided into three classifications: class A data--student academic records, attendance data, and standardized test scores--to be considered permanent; class B data--health information, aptitude and intelligence scores, family information, and interest inventory results--to be discarded at intervals; and class C data--legal or clinical findings and the unevaluated reports of teachers. Data from classes A and B may be released to other educational institutions when the need is legitimized, and released to others only upon permission of the student or a parent. Class C data should be destroyed when their usefulness is ended, and released only to those who have the power of subpoena. (RA)